Newly-promoted Barnet are set to sign Manchester United striker Joe Hugill on loan, as per Nathan Salt.
Joe Hugill Poised To Join Barnet On Loan
The move is somewhat of a final chance for Hugill to prove himself in men’s football as his contract at Old Trafford is set to expire in the summer of 2026.
The striker has departed the Red Devils on loan four times over the past three seasons, though he has scored just nine goals in that time.
His first loan spell came in the National League with Altrincham, where he scored once in seven league games in the fifth tier during the second half of the 2022/23 season.
He spent the next six months in the Manchester United academy before joining League One outfit Burton Albion in January 2024. The Durham-born man scored once and provided three assists for the Brewers in 18 games.
At the start of the 2024/25 season, he joined Wigan Athletic on loan. The Englishman scored five times in 18 appearances for the Latics, but lost his place in the starting 11 at the end of September.
The second half of the campaign saw him join League Two strugglers Carlisle, for whom he featured more regularly, though he only scored twice and could not save his new side from relegation.
Writer’s View
The Bees are slightly lacking depth up front, which has been compounded by Lee Ndlovu’s absence during the middle part of preseason, but signing Hugill should help to solve that problem.
Although he has quite a slender build, the 21-year-old likes to try and play with his back to goal like a traditional target man, and he has enough tenacity and athleticism to make runs in behind. This should suit Barnet’s style of play perfectly as Dean Brennan likes having an attacking focal point which can be utilised when needed, but making runs in behind is also a key part of any possession-based team’s style of play.
Some fans may be concerned that, among all three of Barnet’s senior strikers, none of them have ever scored more than seven league goals in a single season in the EFL. But, they must also look at Brennan’s track record of improving strikers like Nicke Kabamba, Gatlin O’Donkor and even Adam Marriott, who had never scored so prolifically in the National League prior to working with the Irishman.
It will be interesting to see where Hugill sits in the Bees’ pecking order once Ndlovu is back to full fitness. The youngster might only have a few games to prove himself before his more experienced teammates are given opportunities to lead the line.
